The pair recently acquired the rights to Marshall Terrill’s biography Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel – and plan to shoot a biopic later this year. Brad Pitt is seen as the nearest modern-day version of the star, and the producers desperately want him for the role.

According to The Sun, a movie insider said: ‘There are a number of actors being linked to the role of Steve McQueen but Brad is the frontrunner.

‘He not only has the right look and acting talent but he shares Steve’s love for fast cars and motorcycles.’ Steve died in 1980 from a heart attack following an operation to remove a cancerous tumour in his stomach.

He was seen as one of the greatest actors of all time, and made his name in hit movies like Bullitt, The Great Escape, and The Magnificent Seven.

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